Hydraulic bark remover having certain nozzles controlled by loginterrupted light beam



Sept- 1951 G. F. M CLA HYDRAULIC BARK-REMOVER HAVING CERTAIN NOZZLES CONTROLLED BY LOG-INTERRUPTED LIGHT-BEAM Filed Jan. 26, 194

HIS ATTORN EY.

Patented Sept. 18, 1951 HYDRAULIC BARK REMOVER HAVING CER- TAIN NOZZLES CONTROLLED BY LOG- INTERRUPTED LIGHT BEAM Gordon F. McClay, Lennoxville, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Ingersoll-Rand Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 26, 1949, Serial No. 72,900

This invention relates to a hydraulic log debarking device wherein a plurality of hydraulic jets issuing from nozzles arranged around the path of movement of thelog are directed laterally against the log.

One object of the invention is to effect a rapid and complete removal of the bark from a log.

Another object is to maintain the lengths of the hydraulic jets substantially constant irrespective of variations in the diameter of the log.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar parts,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a, hydraulic log debarking device constructed in accordance with the practice of the invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse view taken through Figure 1 on the line 2-2, and

Figure 3 is a similar view taken through Figure 1 on the line 3-3 showing a detail of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 20 designates a log debarking device which, according to the invention, comprises a frame 2|, a pair of conveyors 22- and 23, for carrying a log 24 along the frame 2|, and nozzles, designated 25 as a group, to direct hydraulic jets laterally against the log 24' for removing its bark.

The conveyors 22 and 23 each comprise an endless chain 26' which is trained over suitably spaced sprocket wheels 21 and carry, on'alternate links, cross-bars'28 the outer surfaces 29 of which are of slightly'concave shape and serrated to accommodate the log 24. The inner opposed ends of the conveyors are suitably spaced to permit the ready passage of hydraulic jets therethrough to the log, and on the shafts 3|] for thesprocket wheels 21 are other sprocket wheels 3| for engagement with chains 32 mounted upon the shafts of motors 33 whereby the conveyors 22 and 23 are driven. Thus, each conveyor is driven by its own motor and the unbarked log is carried into the plane of the jets issuing from the nozzles 25 by the conveyor 22, thence onto the conveyor 23 whereby it will be removed from the machine.

As a preferred arrangement, all of the nozzles 25 lie in the same vertical plane and are positioned to direct their jets laterally through the space between the conveyors and against the log.

They are preferably arranged in a circular pattern and those lying at higher elevations than the cross-bars 28, and which are designated 34,

8 Claims. (01. 144-208) are threadedly connected to arms 35 pivotally mounted upon shafts 36 that extend along opposite sides of the conveyors and are supported by bearings 9 on the frame 2|. The .arms are inclined toward the log 24 and of such curvature that the nozzles 34 will all be at substantially the same distance from the log in the operative positions of the arms 35.

To the end that such spacing of the nozzles 34 with respect to the log may be maintained substantially constant irrespective of variations in the diameter of the log, or for logs of different sizes, each arm is provided with a wheel 31 that is rotatable on the arm and has teeth 38 at its periphery for engagement with the log. The wheels 31 are rotatable on the free end portions of the arms 35 so that their weight and much of the weight of the arms may be applied to the log and serve to hold it immovable upon the conveyors.

The wheels are inclined withrespect to each other and engage the log on opposite sides of its top center, thereby preventing the log from rolling oif of the conveyors. Each arm 35 is provided with an extension 39 that depends from the bearing portion of the arm for engagement with a stop member 40 on the frame to hold the wheels at a point suitably spaced from the conveyors to permit an approaching log to move thereunder.

The remaining nozzles occupyfixed positions with respect to the log. One of these, designated 4|, also directs its jet between the conveyors 26 and lies beneath the path of movement of the log and is threadedly connected to a supply conduit 42 on the frame 2| and is so spaced with the underside of the log 24 that its jet will be substantially of the same length as those issuing from the nozzles 34. On opposite sides of the nozzle 4| are inclined branches 43 of the conduit 42 and each branch has a nozzle 44 which is spaced substantially the same distance from the log as the nozzle 4! and so positioned that its jet will flow through the space between the conveyors and against the log at points between the points of impact of the jets issuing from the nozzle 4| and'the lowermost nozzles of the group designated 34.

The water supply for the nozzles 4| and 44 is conveyed to the conduit 42 by a conduit 45 extending longitudinally of the frame 2| and leading to a conduit 46 which leads from a suitable source of supply (not shown) and opens into a water box 4! on the end of the adjacent shaft 36, there being a passage 48 in said shaft which said other arm also'having suitable passages for supplying water constantly to the associated nozzles 34. r

In order to assure an adequatenumber'of hydraulic jets against the surface of logs of large diameter presenting comparatively large areas for debarking, additional nozzles are provided.

between those designated 44 and the lowermost nozzles 34. These nozzles, designated '59, "are 4 l the extension 39 and is of a length that when the piston is in its retracted position sufficient clearance will exist between the free end of the stem 10 and the extension 39 to permit the latter to seat against the stop member 49.

' Pressure medium, as for example water, is

admitted into the outer 'and inner ends H and 12, respectively, of the piston chambers 6'! through conduits 13 and 14 that lead from diametricallyiopposed points of the valve chambers '15 in casings 16 having connected thereto supply and discharge conduits T! and 18, re-

spectively. The conduits T! and 18 also communicate with thevalve chambers at diametrically'opposed points and at right angles to the points of communication of the conduits l3 and 14 with said valve chambers.

threaded into the ends of conduits 5| that rest at i one end upon the upper ends of the branches 43 and open attheir other ends into the con- "duit :2:

The conduits 5| are provided with valves 52 of the poppet type for controlling the flow of water "to the nozzles 50, and the stems 53 of the valves "are connected to spring-pressed armatures -54 ofsolenoids 55 the coils 5B of which are connected in series in an electrical circuit 51 leading f rom mains 58. The energization of the solenoids 55 effected by well known devices comprising a sensitive relay 59 in thecircuit 5-! andsupported "by a bracket 60' on one side of the conveyor '22. The sensitive relay is "controlled by a photoelectric cell 81 superimposed thereon to receive a beam at light 152 directed thrto by a lightsource 53 located on the opposite side of the conveyor '22. "The light-source 63 is also supported by a bracket 60 and derives its electrical currentjfrom; the mains 58 through an electrical circuit 64.

The photo-electric cell BI and the light-source '83 "are so positioned relatively to' each other i that the'lightbeam 52 will be cast horizontally above the path traversed by logs of sm'all and 'rnedium diameters but will be interrupted by logs "of greater diameter having correspondingly greater areas of bark and will, in consequence, require the application thereto of a greater num- "ber of hydraulic jets for debarking it.

As has been previously intimated, the arrangement of the extensions 39 and the stop members "40 is such "that when they engage each other the wheels '31 will be positioned at points above the plane of the conveyors suitable to assure their'corre ot engagement with logs of small and medium diameters. Such spacin of the wheels with respect to the conveyors will, however, be

unsuited for their engagement with a log of large tuators -55 which are positioned on the opposite sides of the frame'ZI outside of and in the same transverse plane as the extensions 39.

"Each actuator com-prises a casing 55 having a piston chamber 51 and a piston 58 reciprocable therein for engagement and disengagement with the extension 39. The piston comprises a head 69 and a stem 11'] which extends slidably through the end'of the casing 66 for engagement with Communication of the supply conduits 11 with the conduits 13 or 14 and between the latter conduits and the discharge conduits '18 is controlled by valves I9 in the valve chambers 15 The valves 19 are rotatable in the chambers and have levers that are pivotally connected to the armatures -8! of solenoids 82 having their coils 83 connected in series with the coils of the solenoids 55. Thus, Iaccording'to the described arrangement, when the solenoids '55 are energized, for c'ausingwater to be ejected from the nozzles 50, the valves 19 are rotated at the'rsame time to place the conduits 13 in communication with the supply condu'it 11 for actuating the pistons 68'and there-l by tilt the arms 35 outwardly.

In the operation of the device, and with the conveyors 22 and 23 operating at the same speed, a log carried by the conveyor 22 moves through the zone of convergence of the hydraulicjets issuing from the nozzles 34, 4| and 44 and, after being debarked by the jets, is transferred onto the conveyor 23 whereby it is removed from the machine. Immediately prior to its entrance into the jet zone the log engages the lower portions of the wheels 3'! and causes the arms 35 to be tilted outwardly, as required, to enable thewheels 31 to roll 'onto the surface of the log. Thereafter, the wheels will roll upon thelog and rise and fall in accordance with variations in its diameter so that the distance from the nozzles 34 to the log will at all times be substantially-constant.

Inasmuch as the distance from the "outlet end of the nozzle 4| to the underside oifthe log is invariable the length of the hydraulic jet ejected by said nozzle will also remain constant, and the jets issuing from the nozzles 44 will vary inlength only in an inconsequential degree since variations in the diameter'o'f the log, or between difier'ent logs, do little to vary the distance be ween the V nozzles 44 and the points on thelog against which their jets strike. V V I e Whenever a log, ora portion thereof, of a diameter greater than the distance between the crossbars 28 and the lightbeam .52 moves into the transverse plane of the photo-electric cell it will interrupt the light beam 62 and the sensitive r.e lay 59 will then cause the solenoids 55 and '82 to become energized. In consequence, -all of the armatures will be retracted and those designated 54 will open the valves 52 to permit the -discharge of hydraulic jets from the nozzles 5| against the log. At the same time, the armatures 8! will rotate the valve 19 to admit Water, under'pressure, into the outer ends ll of the piston chambers 51'. The water thus admitted will drive the pistons 68 against the extensions 39 and tilt the arms 35 outwardly, thereb elevating the wheels to positions for engagement with the surface of the log.

The valves 52 and 19 will remain in the positions described as long as the log lies across the path of the light beam 62. But, when 'a log, or a portion oflarger diameter thereof, moves out of the plane of the light beam, said light beam is again immediately established and, by action of the sensitive relay 59, the solenoids 55 and 82 are again deenergized. Thevalves 52 will then return to their closed positions to cut-oil the flow of water to the nozzles 50 and the valves 19 will be rotated to place the conduits 13 into communication with the discharge conduits 18 and to establish communication between the supply conduits 11 and the conduits 14. Water will then enter the inner ends 12 of the piston chambers 61 and return the pistons 68 to their initial positions so that their'stems will be out of the path of movement of the extensions 39.

In practice, the present invention has been found to function in an usually eflicient manner.

By utilizing the log as a means for tilting the arms '35 the length of the jets issuing from the nozzles carried by the arms will remain substantially constant, irrespective of the variations in the diameters of the work. Moreover, by varying the number of hydraulic jets in accordance with variations of the areas requiring debarking a considerable saving in power expenditure may be effected.

I claim:

1. A log debarking device comprising a frame, a pair of endless conveyors arranged in tandem fashion for conveying a log along the frame and being spaced relatively to each other, a liquid conveying conduit pivotally connected to the frame and having a nozzle positioned to direct a hydraulic jet into the space between the opposed ends of the conveyors and against the log, and a wheel on and rotatable about the conduit and bearing against the log to hold the log against the conveyors and to maintain the nozzle at a substantially uniform distance from the log irrespective of Variations in the diameter of the log.

2. A log debarking device comprising a frame, a pair of endless conveyors arranged in tandem fashion for conveying a log along the frame and being spaced relatively to each other, liquid conveying conduits pivotally connected to the frame at the opposite sides of the conveyors and having nozzles positioned to direct hydraulic jets into the space between the opposed ends of the conveyors and against such log, and wheels on and rotatable about the conduits and rolling on the surface of the log to hold the log against the conveyors and to impart tilting movement to the conduits in accordance with variations in the diameter of the log for maintaining the nozzles at substantially uniform distances from the log.

3. A log debarking device comprising a frame, a pair of endless conveyors arranged in tandem fashion for conveying a log along the frame and being spaced relatively to each other, shafts on opposed sides of the conveyors having liquid conveying passages, arms pivotall mounted upon the shafts in the transverse plane of the space between the conveyors and having passages in communication with the passages in the shafts, nozzles on the arms positioned for directing hydraulic jets into the space between the conveyors and against such log, and wheels on and rotatable about the arms and engaging the log to hold the log against the conveyors and to impart tilting movement to the arms in accordance with variations in the diameter of the log for maintaining the nozzles at substantially uniform distances from the log. I

4. A log debarking device comprising a frame, a pair of endless conveyors arranged in end to end relation to each other for conveying a log along the frame and having their opposed ends spaced with respect to each other, a plurality of nozzles arranged in a circular pattern around such opposed ends of the conveyors'to direct hydraulic jets laterally between the conveyors and against such log, conduit means for constantly supplying fluid to some of the nozzles, valve means for selectively controlling the supply of liquid to others of said nozzles, electro-responsive means for actuating the valve means, a photoelectric cell for controlling the energization of the electro-responsive means, and a light-source positioned to direct a beam of light to the photoelectric cell in a plane traversed by logs of and above a given diameter and out of the plane traversed by logs of diameters smaller than such given diameter.

5. A log debarking device comprising a frame, a carrier for conveying a log along the frame, a liquid conveying conduit pivotally connected to the frame and having a nozzle to direct a hydraulic jet against the log, means on the conduit to engage the log for maintaining the nozzle at a substantially uniform distance from the log, pressure fluid actuated means for selectively imparting pivotal movement to the conduit, valve means for controlling the supply of pressure fluid to the fluid actuated means, electro-responsive means for actuating the valve means, a photoelectric cell for controlling the energization of the electro-responsive means, and a light-source to direct a beam of light to the photo-electric cell in a plane traversed by the log.

6. A log debarking device comprising a frame, a pair of endless conveyors arranged in endless fashion for conveying a log along the frame and being spaced relatively to each other, shafts on opposed sides of the frame having liquid convey- I ing passages, arms pivotally mounted on the shafts having passages in constant communication with the passages in the shafts, groups of nozzles on the arms positioned to constantly direct hydraulic jets into the space between the conveyors and against the upper and side surfaces of the log, wheels on and rotatable about the arms and in engagement with the log to impart tilting movement to the arms in accordance with variations in the diameter of the log for maintaining the nozzles at substantially uniform distances from the log, and a group of stationary nozzles positioned to constantly direct hydraulic jets into the space between the conveyors and against the underside of the log.

'7. A log debarking device comprising a frame, a pair of endless conveyors arranged in end to end and in spaced relation to each other for conveying a log along the frame, shafts on opposed sides of the frame having liquid conveying passages, arms pivotally mounted on the shafts having passages in constant communication with the passages in the shafts, groups of nozzles on the arms positioned to constantly direct hydraulic jets into the space between the conveyors and against the upper and side surfaces of the log, wheels rotatable on and about the arms and in engagement with the log to impart tilting movement to the arms in accordance with variations in the diameter of the log for maintaining the nozzles at substantially uniform distances from the log, a group of stationary nozzles positioned to constantly direct hydraulic jets into the space between the conveyors and against theu-nderside of the log, nozzles between the first and second mentioned groups of nozzles to direct hydraulic jets between the conveyors and against the log, and means for selectively supplying water to the last mentioned nozzles in accordance with the variations in the diameters of the logs passing through the barking device.

8. A log debarking device comprising a frame, a carrier for conveying a log along the frame, liquid conveying conduits pivotally connected to the frame on opposed sides of the carrier and each having, nozzles to direct hydraulic jets against the log, wheels rotatable on the conduits and 'in engagement with the log to impart tilting movement to the conduits in accordance with variations in the diameter of such log for maintaining the nozzles at substantially uniform distances from the log, stationary nozzles for directing other hydraulic jets against the log, pressure fluid actuated means for selectively imparting pivotal movement to the conduits, valve means for controlling the supply of pressure fluid tothe stationary nozzles and the fluid actuated means, electro-responsive means for actuating,

I 8 both valve means, a photo-electric cell for controlling the energization of the electro-responsive means, and a light-source to direct a beam of light to the photo-electric cell in a plane traversed by the log.

- GORDON F. McCLAY.

REFERENCES CI-TED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,300,748 Lombard 'Apr. 15, 1919 1,874,080 Brislin Aug. 30, 1932 2,238,872 Mather Apr. 15, 1941 2,289,967 Johnson July 14, 1942 2,395,845 Bukowsky Mar; 5, 1946 2,422,757 Swift June 24, 1947 2,473,461 White June 14, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 35,574 Sweden Oct. 1, 191.3 

